Delon HamptonDelon Hampton (August 23, 1933 – January 14, 2021) was an American civil engineer, educator, and business leader.[1] He was the founder and chairman of Delon Hampton & Associates, a civil and structural engineering firm, and served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2000.[1] Hampton was also a professor at Howard University, where he spent 25 years advancing research and education in civil engineering. Recognized for his leadership and contributions to the field, Hampton was honored with the renaming of Purdue University’s civil engineering building to the Delon and Elizabeth Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering.[2] Early lifeDelon Hampton was born on August 23,1933, in Jefferson, Texas, to Charles and Alzadie Douglas. His mother died not too long after his birth.[1] Hampton was adopted and raised by his aunt, Elizabeth Hampton.[1] He attended Englewood High School in Chicago, a commitment that required him to travel more than two hours each way from his home.[3] Despite the distance and challenges, he excelled academically and graduated at just 16 years old.[1] After high school, he explored career fairs at the Illinois Institute of Technology.[1] EducationHampton began his academic journey after graduating from Englewood High School at the age of 16.[1] He first attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1954, developing a strong interest in bridge design.[4] He briefly continued his education at Howard University before transferring to Purdue University, where he earned both his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1958 and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1961.[4] CareerAfter earning his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1954,[5] Hampton was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years from 1954 to 1956.[1] Upon discharge, he pursued graduate studies at Purdue University, earning his Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1958 and completing his Ph.D. in 1961.[2] Hampton began his academic career teaching at Kansas State University from 1961 to 1964, and during this period, he served as interim head of the soil mechanics research program at the University of New Mexico.[1][6] He then worked at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago from 1964 to 1968,[5] before joining Howard University as a faculty member in 1968, where he taught and conducted research for 25 years.[5] In 1973, Hampton founded Delon Hampton & Associates, a civil and structural engineering consultancy.[1][7] His leadership extended beyond academia and business when he became the first African American president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) from 1999–2000.[1] In recognition of his contributions, Purdue University renamed its civil engineering building the Delon and Elizabeth Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering in 2012.[8] In 2013, he published a memoir titled A Life Constructed: Reflections on Breaking Barriers and Building Opportunities, offering insights into his professional journey and his efforts to advance diversity in engineering.[3] Awards and achievements
DeathDelon Hampton died at his home in Potomac, Maryland, on January 14, 2021.[3][9] References
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